Meekail says MDP’s atoll activities have been ‘buried’ as he pledges voice and voting rights for atoll members

Meekail Ahmed Naseem says one of the most persistent complaints he has heard from ordinary MDP members during his recent atoll tour is that the party’s activities outside Male' have been “buried”, and that rural voices have been sidelined for far too long.

Speaking at a press conference in Male' city on Tuesday after returning from his 'Ithubaar' campaign visits, Meekail said members repeatedly raised concerns that the party’s grassroots machinery has weakened in the atolls. He pledged to overhaul the MDP’s internal structure to ensure those on the front lines of local governance are no longer left out of key decision‑making.

Meekail also stressed that internal divisions should not result in anyone being pushed out of the party. He said no member should be “left behind” because of the side they choose in internal contests, adding that the MDP must remain a space where differing views can coexist without fear of exclusion.

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“I believe the people who work closest with ordinary MDP members, especially in rural communities, are our elected councilors and WDC members. It is imperative that they have a voice in the National Assembly, the highest organ of the party,” said the Galolhu South MP.

He said he intends to guarantee that rural councilors and WDC members not only participate in the National Assembly but also have voting rights on its decisions. However, he noted that each atoll would need to nominate a set number of representatives, as it would not be feasible for every councilor and WDC member nationwide to sit in the assembly.

Meekail is contesting the June 12 MDP chairmanship election against former President Mohamed Nasheed, with both candidates currently crisscrossing islands in an increasingly heated campaign. The rivalry has grown sharper in recent weeks, with Meekail and Nasheed trading pointed remarks as they vie for control of the party’s top post.